Guitar and Mando on an Airplane?

[Bob Denton]

I will be flying to Germany next week for a last minute gig and need to bring both a mando and guitar with me. I will have a small undeseat carry on as well.

Has anyone brought two instruments on board recently?

Thanks

[Jonathan Peck]

I believe that the game has changed somewhat since Britain reported the latest terorist plot back in August. I'm not sure that carry on restrictions have been loosened since then. Probably best to call your Airline to to see what their current policy is for carrying on your instruments on an International flight. Myself personally, I check my guitar in it's Calton case as luggage at the curb and don't worry about it. If my mandolin is going to fly, I'll try and carry it on first, but it will also be in a Calton just in case I have to gate check it.

NY Times article 8/15/06
Tighter Security is Jeopardizing Orchestra Tours

[thiggins]

Here's an official letter from the TSA to the American Federation of Musicians (Union) that removes the restriction on the number of carry ons for musicians. Not sure if it's still valid, or if you HAVE to be a Union member to "use" it, but I do carry it with me when travelling. I've never had to show it to anyone yet, but it's something that might help.

http://www.afvbm.com/aircraft%20carry-on.htm

TSA Letter (http://www.afvbm.com/aircraft%20carry-on.htm)

Tim

[Bob DeVellis]

I don't think the letter will carry much weight with international agencies. Remember, you have to get your instruments back home with you when you return, and that may be where you hit more resistance to carrying them on. In general, I don't think two instrument cases and an additional carry-on will be received too well as cabin luggage either going or returning.

[thiggins]

I hope that's not true. Yeah, the letter means squat to foreign carriers.

Who's actually done this lately ?

Tim

[Dave Reiner]

I had to pull out the TSA letter with Delta, domestically, when I traveled two months ago with mando, fiddle, and small carry on. #They said it applied to TSA screeners only, and airline policies superseded TSA ones. #They did finally relent and let me carry both instruments on, though. #My working assumption is that I can always get my fiddle on, but everything else has to be Caltonized as a fallback.

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif Dave

[Bob Denton]

I printed 6 copies of the TSA letter but my experience has been the security people before TSA are the problem.

Once through security, I can gate check the guitar in a worst case.

I am flying Continental all the way so I won't have to deal with any foreign carriers. Continental handles their security in Amsterdam.

It helps to have a Gold elite card, Platinum helps even more...

Cya

[EggerRidgeBoy]

I hope that's not true. #Yeah, the letter means squat to foreign carriers.

Who's actually done this lately ?

Tim
It means squat to domestic carriers as well - here is post made by Dudley Connell on a local DC bluegrass forum:


Just thought I should let you know that when the Scene flew from Columbus to
Portland, Oregon in July 2006, America West/US Airways would NOT let us carry
on our instruments. They were taken away from us at the gate. We showed
the TSA documents to the gate attendant and although it is clearly stated that
you could carry on musical instruments, we were told that statement only
applied to carrying the instruments through the security checkpoint and not onto
the plane. Yep, they took my 1941 Martin D28 Herringbone guitar in a soft
gig bag and threw it into the belly of the plane with all the rest of the
checked baggage. We had connecting flights in both directions and America
West/US Airways actually went as far as to call from one gate to another to alert
the the departing gate keepers that we were on the way and could be trouble.
Can you believe it? They pulled the entire band out of line, lined us up
against the wall and separated us from our instruments. Although all the
instruments came through intact, Fred insists that his 1930's dobro has not sounded
right to his ear since.


In summary, I am aware of what the rules are and America West/US Airways may
not still treat customers like this, but I can only go by my personal
experience and this is the way it went down for us. We will never use this airline
again.

Thanks and I hope this helps someone else considering travel plans,

Dudley Connell

[fiddle5]

I travel a fair bit, usually with fiddle, but sometimes mandolin. Much of the carry-on filtering is done with the descretion of the check in people. Arguing with them in any shape or form is futile. I carry the shortest and lightest cases possible, with no spare accessories, tuners, strings, no nothing but the operating instrument with picks and/or bows.

Letters and agreements between airlines and music associations are good discussions in principle, but the front line people at the airports are not a high intellect group, nor do they care about your precious instrument. I would be very surprised to find someone at 4:30 in the morning to have any knowledge about written agreements for travelling musicians. Its an issue of the path of least resistance and the mandate is to error on the side of higher security when in doubt.

My advice is to go in light and slender with your choice of cases, take the lessor value of your instruments whenever possible. Get there early in case you need to exercise and option like shipping Fex Ex where you can pack well and insure the item for overnight delivery.

If you manage to get a guitar onto the plane with you, you're having a very lucky day. I've purchased lessor value instruments specifically to travel with. Not too many problems so far...


mike

[Jim Williamson]

Best advice as Captain Crunch is to contact your airline since the rules vary between countries and are changing.

#The UK was probably the most restrictive after the August alert, insisting that ALL musical instruments went into the hold. Orchestras and musicians were refusing to travel abroad and cancelling appearances rather than put eg a Stradivarius in with the suitcases where the insurance would not cover it. Only departing flights were restricted in this way however. #You could fly back from abroad with the instrument as hand baggage.

The restrictions are being relaxed a little. Since Tuesday 12 September you are allowed an instrument up to guitar size, - but two might be a problem. Germany will no doubt be different, and if you are changing flights in another country there may be different rules again. #Do check if outgoing and incoming flights have different restrictions. #Yes, it is a muddle.

Jim

[mrmando]

Even contacting the airline ahead of time may not help. I called Continental before the last time I flew to Ireland. Even read parts of the TSA letter over the phone to the dear sweet lady who worked in customer service. She gave me the "that's just for TSA" line. I asked her what she thought the TSA letter meant by the phrase "airline operators," and that's when she got really snippy.

Fortunately, Continental's gate agents/flight attendants were much nicer than the lady on the phone. They didn't bat an eye at my fiddle and mandolin. I am praying for the same luck next month with United/Lufthansa on my way to Tbilisi.

God bless Dudley Connell, but anyone who flies with a D-28 in a gig bag is asking for trouble.

[Bob Denton]

I flew from San Jose to Albany NY to San Jose last weekend with a guitar in a hard foam gig bag and had no problems bringing the guitar on board. My Newark to Houston flight was an international 767 and they had fold down bins instead of big overheads. I had no problem sticking it in the closet.

Thanks for the advice.

Cya

[Rick Schmidlin]

If you bring you mandolin as small bag at check in there should be no problem, as for the guitar pack for cargo.I am also going to Germany next l week and bring for the pain a small tote back and Mandolin in a Calton case. Everything else is prepaired for cargo.

[Bob Denton]

Where in Germany?

I have put the mando in a hard case and in a Tennis Racket bag. It looks sporty. The Guitar in a hard form nylong covered bag ready for gate checking if necessary and a small underseat computer case.

I will be in Bremen and Celle next week playing bluegrass. Fling on Continental on Monday to AMS.

Tchuess!

[EggerRidgeBoy]

Where in Germany?

I have put the mando in a hard case and in a Tennis Racket bag. It looks sporty. The Guitar in a hard form nylong covered bag ready for gate checking if necessary and a small underseat computer case.

I will be in Bremen and Celle next week playing bluegrass. Fling on Continental on Monday to AMS.

Tchuess!
Bob,

My sister lived in Celle years ago (she has since lived in Cottbus and Giessen, and is now in Wiesbaden), and I visited her there for a few days. Nice town. Just out of curiousity, where in Celle does one play bluegrass? Who is sponsoring/promoting the show?

Have a great trip - hope all goes well with the instruments!

Bret

[Rick Schmidlin]

I was in Breemon last November and had a great time.

This trip it will Potdam and Berlin.

[Bob Denton]

I made it with no issues on either the Domestic or International flights.

Let's see if I make it home with no problems.

Cya

[Bob Denton]

I had absolutely no issues or problems travelling with the guitar and mandolin plus an underseat computer case.

When the guitar was too big for the overheads, I requested a slot in the closet which was always graciously given.

On my final leg home last night, the cabin crew told me that now, they have excess space in the overheads, due to the new carry on regulations. They actually shifted end on roll on bags sideways to prevent bags from shifting in the bins.

I do beleive travel to the UK is still somewhat restricted but all other destinations are fine.

Cya!

[Bob DeVellis]

Bob, nice to hear that all went well. I'm sure you're relieved.

[Bob Denton]

Bob, nice to hear that all went well. I'm sure you're relieved.
Yup, but it starts again on Monday..

Cya